The Cultural Center of the Inter-American Development Bank announced today the launching of the call for proposals for its 2007 grants for small-scale cultural development projects.
Applications should be presented to the IDB country offices in the 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that are borrowing members of the Bank, from October 1st 2006 to January 31, 2007.
One-time-only grants ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 are awarded on the basis of fulfilling a local need, contributing toward cultural values, stimulating economic and social activity in new and successful ways, supporting artistic excellence and contributing toward youth and community development.
The grant program is designed to encourage the development of innovative projects, preserve and recover traditions and conserve cultural heritage, among other goals.
The IDB may finance up to two-thirds of a single project. Local organizations are responsible for providing the remainder of the resources and supporting the project on a sustainable basis.
Thirty eight projects were awarded financing in 2006. In the selection process a total of 951 applications were submitted to the IDB country offices, and of these 234 were forwarded to the Selection Committee of the IDB Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.
The Cultural Development Grant Program has demonstrated the effectiveness of micro-investments in community-based cultural enterprises that lead to job creation and capacity and identity building since 1994.